Houston Newsmakers Jan. 19, 2014

THE SUPER BOWL OF CARING IS A WAY FOR ALL OF US TO HELP. WE'LL TELL YOU HOW THIS MORNING. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO "HOUSTON NEWSMAKERS." THIS IS A GOOD MORNING FOR YOU TO HAVE A PEN OR PENCIL READY TO TAKE DOWN WHAT COULD BE VALUABLE AND MAYBE LIFE-SAVING INFORMATION. THE INFORMATION IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE TREMENDOUS TOLL IT TAKES ON VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WHAT ALL OF US CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. JOINING THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS BARBIE BRASHEAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL. AMY SMITH IS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL AND DEVON ANDERSON IS HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ME THIS MORNING. FIRST, WHAT DOES THE COUNCIL DO AND WHAT IS ITS MAIN PURPOSE? ITS MAIN SERVICE TO TO BRING TOGETHER THE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND RESPONDING SYSTEMS THAT WORK WITH VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO THINK ABOUT WAYS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO SERVICES, INCREASE SAFETY AND PREVENT ADULT VIOLENT DEATHS DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE WASN'T A NEED FOR THIS, BUT THERE IS A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR THIS, ISN'T THERE? ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. WE KNOW THAT IN OUR COUNTY LAST YEAR, OVER 3,000, ALMOST CLOSE TO 4,000 WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED WITH SHELTER. WE ALSO KNOW THAT LESS THAN 5% OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NATIONALLY WILL ACCESS SERVICES FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDERS, SO WE'RE JUST SEEING THE TIP OF THE ICE BERKMAN. WITH THAT SAID, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE GOING FORWARD? ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING IS LOOKING AT WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AND WHAT'S OUT THERE, TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE USER-FRIENDLY FOR THE VICTIM TO ACCESS THE SERVICES. AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A SEAMLESS FLOW OF SERVICES FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THE D.A.'S OFFICE TO THE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL TALKING SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON THESE CASES IN TRYING TO GET THESE CASES OUT THERE AND GET THE SERVICES THAT ARE OUT THERE. WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE HELP IF THEY NEED IT. I WANT TO GET FROM THERE TO HOW THE D.A.'S OFFICE IS INVOLVED. HOW DOES THAT CONNECTION WORK WITH THIS COUNCIL? WE HAVE A DIVISION CALLED THE FAMILY CRIMINAL LAW DIVISION THAT CONTAINS PROSECUTORS WHO HAVE HAD SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN THIS AREA, INVESTIGATORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS. SO I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE PROSECUTE CASES AND, IN FACT, WII FILED OVER 10,000 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES LAST YEAR ALONE, BUT WHAT PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW IS ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, WHETHER YOU HAVE A CASE PENDING OR NOT, WHETHER YOU HAVE FILED A CASE AGAINST YOUR ABUSER OR NOT, WE CAN HELP YOU. AND THIS HELPS PEOPLE KNOW WHAT KIND OF SERVICES PEOPLE CAN GET FROM YOUR OFFICE. YES, EXACTLY. ONE OF THE MORE RECENT CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A CASE OF MELISSA SOWDERS, THE MOTHER WHO WENT MISSING AFTER GOING TO MEET WITH HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND. SHE WAS LATER FOUND DEAD AND THE RESULT OF THAT WAS THE HUSBAND WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER. TO GET A SENSE OF THE TRAGEDY THAT SURROUNDS A CASE LIKE THIS, I WANT YOU TO WATCH THE REPORT DONE BY KPRC'S JOEL EISENBAUM THE DAY THAT MATTHEW SOWDERS WAS ARRAIGNED. Reporter: THE ALLEGATION IS NOTHING HURT OF HORRIFIC. I DON'T KNOW WHY COULD SOMEBODY BE SO EVIL AND DO THIS TO HER. Reporter: DEPUTIES SAY 28-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW SOWDERS STRANGLED HIS WIFE OF 8-PLUS YEARS, THE MOTHER OF HIS FOUR CHILDREN, THEN STUFFED HER PREGNANT, HALF NAKED BODY IN A TRASH CAN AND DUMPED HER IN CYPRESS CREEK. THIS MORNING IN COURT, THE REVELATION OF AT LEAST ONE WITNESS. SAID HE WAS SOAKING WET, HIS TRUCK WAS COVERED IN MUD, SHE SAID THAT THE DEFENDANT TOLD HERE HE'D STRANGLED MELISSA TO DEATH AFTER SHE PULLED A GUN ON HIM. Reporter: THE STORY WE HEARD IN COURT THIS MORNING IS ESSENTIALLY ONE-SIDED, INVESTIGATORS' RENDITION OF EVENTS. HE HAS DONE NO HARM TO MELISSA SOWDERS AND WE'LL HAVE TO CLEAR HIS NAME IN COURT. Reporter: THERE WILL BE A LOT TO EXPLAIN, BUT WHAT ABOUT MOTIVE? LOCAL 2 INVESTIGATES IT WAS MATTHEW SOWDERS WHO FILED FOR DIVORCE IN OCTOBER, CITING CONFLICT OF PERSONALITIES. MATTHEW SOWDERS HAD CUSTODY OF THE FOUR KIDS, BUT MATTHEW SOWDERS WAS NOT THE FATHER OF MELISSA'S BABY-TO-BE, AND THAT WAS A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, SAYS SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THE FORMER COUPLE. THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE BODY BY SEVERAL TATTOOS. ONE OF THE TATTOOS WAS THE NAME, MATT, FOR THE VICTIM'S ESTRANGED HUSBAND. THAT WAS JOEL EISENBAUM REPORTING. MATTHEW SOWDERS IS CHARGED, NOT CONVICTED IN THIS CASE, BUT JUST LISTENING TO THAT REPORT BRINGS OUT EMOTION ABOUT THE TERROR THAT MELISSA SOWDERS MUST HAVE FELT BEFORE SHE DIED AND, IN FACT, MANY WOMEN HAVE FELT IN TEXAS AND HARRIS COUNTY. TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE RELEASED A REPORT LAST YEAR HIGHLIGHTING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN KILLED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS. 114 IN 2012 AND UP FROM 102 KILLED THE PREVIOUS YEAR. HARRIS COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF MURDERS IN THE STATE, WITH 30. THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE IS STAGGERING, 38,490, ALMOST DEPUTY CONSTABLE THAT NUMBER ESTIMATED TO BE THE INCIDENTS THAT GO UNREPORTED. THAT REALLY PAINTS A BROAD PICTURE OF THE SIGNIFICANT UPHILL CHALLENGE THAT ALL OF US FACE AS A COMMUNITY AND YOUR COUNCIL TO TRY TO MAKE THOSE STATISTICS GO AWAY. ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S SO VERY IMPORTANT TO INCREASE PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT. I THINK THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE COORDINATING COUNCIL, SO WE'RE WORKING TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH A SURVIVOR, WHICH INCLUDES THE MEDIA, FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THE FAITH COMMUNITY, SO THAT THEY KNOW THERE ARE PLACES THAT YOU CAN GO AND THEY KNOW WHAT THE SIGNS ARE AND HOW TO ACCESS THE SAFETY PLAN. THIS IS ONE-STOP SHOPPING, FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHICH AGENCY MIGHT BE THE BEST AGENCY TO HELP THEM OUT, THE COUNCIL IS A GOOD PLACE TO GO FOR THAT, IS IT NOT? THE COUNCIL IS COMPRISED OF ALL THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTY, SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT PART OF THE TOWN YOU LIVE IN, WHICH IS THE BEST AND APPROPRIATE REFERRAL TO MAKE. WE ALSO HAVE OUR PARTNERS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, MOST OF THE POLICE AGENCIES ARE REPRESENTED AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SO WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO HELP COMBAT THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS, WE HAVE AN ADULT VIOLENT DEATH REVIEW TEAM LOOKING AT VIOLENT MURDERS TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MISSED, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO TO INTERVENE ON AN EARLIER BASIS, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IF YOU ARE IN A VIOLENT SITUATION, TO GET HELP. THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME IS WHEN YOU LEAVE THAT SITUATION BECAUSE THE BATTERER IS LOSING POWER AND CONTROL, WHICH IS WHAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS, AND SO WHEN YOU LEAVE, THAT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME. THERE ARE PLACES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP YOU DO THAT. DEVON, ARE YOU HOPING THAT BY THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS GOING UP IN YOUR OFFICE, THAT WILL SEND A SIGNAL TO THOSE WHO MIGHT BE IN THOSE KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCES, THE RESULTS OF THAT ARE GOING TO BE HARSH? YES, I DO WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR OUR OFFICE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTION, AND WE WILL DO OUR UTMOST TO SEE THAT JUSTICE IS DONE IN THOSE CASES, BUT EVEN A BIGGER MESSAGE THAT MAY BE MORE HELPFUL IS THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE WHETHER OR NOT CHARGES ARE FILED AND THE BIGGEST ONE WE DO IS WE WRITE PROTECTIVE ORDERS FOR PEOPLE. WE DO THAT FOR FREE. COME TO OUR OFFICE. WE'LL SIT DOWN AND WE WILL REPRESENT YOU IN COURT. WE DO 80% OF THE PROTECTIVE ORDERS IN HARRIS COUNTY. THEY LAST FOR TWO YEARS. A JUDGE CAN ORDER YOUR ABUSER TO STAY AWAY FROM YOUR HOME, FROM YOUR KIDS' SCHOOL, FROM YOUR WORKPLACE, AND IF IT'S VIOLATED, THEY'LL GO TO JAIL. THAT'S NEXT WHEN "HOUSTON WELCOME BACK. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACED BY FAMILIES ENDURING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS AND THE INCREDIBLE NEGATIVE IMPACT IT HAS ON INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. BARBIE BRESHEARS IS FROM THE COORDINATING COUNCIL OF HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AMY SMITH IS DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DEVON ANDERSON, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY. LET'S TALK ABOUT WAYS OUT. I WAS READING STATISTICS OF THE 30 WOMEN KILLED IN HARRIS COUNTY IN 2012, 21 OF THEM HAD TAKEN STEPS TO LEAVE. THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. SO THE CHALLENGE NOW, IT LOOKS TO ME, IS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT THEY CAN MAKE THAT CALL EARLIER BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT POINT. WHAT'S THE PROCESS AND WHAT ARE THE REMEDIES YOU THINK ARE BICYCLIST? TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP YOU THINK ABOUT THE BEST AND SAFEST WAY TO DO THAT. WHEN SOMEONE IS IN AN IMMEDIATE CRISIS, IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING TO THINK ABOUT THE LEVEL OF DANGER YOU MIGHT BE IN AND HAVING SOMEONE SEPARATED FROM THAT HELPS YOU THINK ABOUT IT DIFFERENTLY. SO THERE ARE MANY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDERS IN OUR AREA. THERE'S ALSO THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE, WHICH IS 1-800-799-SAFE. ANYONE CAN CALL THAT NUMBER OR ANY OF THE LOCAL NUMBERS, THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, THE BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS, BAY AREA TURNING POINT, AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THEM, ALL OF THEM HAVE A HOTLINE THAT IS STAFFED 24 HOURS A DAY READY TO HELP SOMEONE THINK ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND GIVE THEM STEPS TO REALLY INCREASE THEIR ACCESS TO SERVICES. AND I KNOW THAT BASED UPON THE HORRIBLE STORIES WE HEAR POST-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE REALLY WILLING TO DO IS EDUCATE THE PEOPLE IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE D.A.'S OFFICE DOES, IS MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEY CAN GO TO GET HELP TO TRY TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING. ARE WE DOING -- IF ANYBODY GETS HURT, WE'RE NOT DOING AS GOOD A JOB AS WE MAYBE CAN, BUT HOW MUCH MORE CAN WE ALL DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COORDINATING COUNCIL HAS DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS TO DO A COMMUNITY SAFETY ASSESSMENT, AND WHAT WE DID WAS WE LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WE LOOKED AT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE LOOKED AT HOW THEY CAN CHANGE HOW THEY'RE HELPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, AND SOME OF THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY EACH AGENCY OF ONE OF THEM IS WE'VE TRAINED EVERY PASADENA POLICE OFFICER ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHICH HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW THEY HANDLE THEIR CASES, AND WE TRAIN ABOUT NOT THAT IT'S JUST A PHYSICAL ASSAULT, BUT IT'S POWER AND CONTROL, ECONOMIC ABUSE, INTIMIDATION AND THREATS, A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THE POWER AND CONTROL, AND TO LET THEM KNOW ALSO THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN RISK FACTORS THAT ARE INVOLVED SO THAT WHEN THEY GO OUT TO A SCENE, THEY CAN ASSESS THE RISK FOR LETHALITY FOR THOSE PARTICULAR WOMEN BECAUSE EVERY CASE IS AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, THERE'S NOT ANYTHING YOU CAN SAY THAT IS GENERIC FOR EVERY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM. EVERY CASE IS UNIQUE AND IT'S DIFFERENT AND THAT PERSON'S SAFETY PLAN IS GOING TO BE UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT TO THEM. WHAT CAN THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DO TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HEAD THIS OFF BEFORE IT HAPPENED. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CERTAIN PROGRAMS IN PLACE, BUT IT'S GOT TO BE HEARTBREAKING, FROM YOUR STANDPOINT, IN THE COURT WHEN YOU'RE IN COURT AND YOU SEE THESE VICTIMS AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE FIGHTING ON THEIR BEHALF. AND A LOT OF TIMES THE VICTIMS WON'T RECEIVE CHARGES, AND SO WE HAVE TO STEP IN AND PROSECUTE FOR THEM. WE CAN ASSUME THE PROSECUTION FOR THEM WHETHER THEY WANT TO GO THROUGH WITH IT OR NOT. THE STATE OF TEXAS IS ACTUALLY THE COMPLAINANT IN THESE CASES, AND WE DO THAT QUITE A BIT, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHY THE FAMILY CRIMINAL LAW DIVISION WAS STARTED IN THE FIRST PLACE IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE WOMEN WHO WANTED TO DROP CHARGES. IT'S A SPECIALIZED AREA TRYING TO REHABILITATE THEM TO COOPERATE WITH PROSECUTION, BUT I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO COME TO OUR OFFICE AT 1201 FRANKLIN ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND JUST COME IN AND TALK ABOUT IT WITH A SOCIAL WORKER, TALK ABOUT YOUR SITUATION, DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT A PROTECTIVE ORDER OR NOT. WE CAN REFER YOU TO SHELTERS, WE CAN REFER YOU TO PLACES THAT CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR KIDS, WITH YOUR FINANCES, WE CAN HELP YOU GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION. AND THAT IS A SAFETY NET, IS IT NOT, FOR SOMEBODY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW DO I GET OUT, IT'S A PERFECT SCENARIO FOR THEM TO KNOW THEY HAVE OPTIONS. THAT'S WHY WOMEN DROP CHARGES SO OFTEN, IS IT'S NOT JUST FEAR AND INTIMIDATION, IT'S FINANCIAL, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WHEN MY PROVIDER IS IN JAIL. WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THOSE ISSUES. THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO GET THOSE ISSUES STARTED. OCTOBER WAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, BUT IT'S EVERY MONTH, IT SHOULD BE, AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. I WANT TO PASS ON CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL, AND TO MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, HERE'S THE PHONE NUMBER AND WEB SITE ADDRESS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL. (281) 400-3680. WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE CORRECT WEB SITE ADDRESS ON OUR LINK ON "HOUSTON NEWSMAKERS," SO GO TO THE CLICK2HOUSTON.COM AND GO TO THE "HOUSTON NEWSMAKERS" SITE AND WE'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION THERE. YOU CAN GET HELP AND ACCESS TO AT LEAST 14 ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEAL WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THROUGH THE COORDINATING COUNCIL. THANK YOU, BARBIE BRASHEAR, AMY SMITH AND DEVON ANDERSON, FOR THIS PAST WEDNESDAY WAS THE KICKOFF OF THE ANNUAL SUPER BOWL OF CARING CAMPAIGN THAT WILL RUN THROUGH FEBRUARY 2nd. IT'S A TIME WHEN A GROUP OF COMPANIES THAT NORMALLY COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER COME TOGETHER TO URGE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO END THE HUNGER ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN THIS COMMUNITY. JOINING ME THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT THIS YEAR'S EFFORT AND HOW WE CAN GET INVOLVED, CLARA COOPER, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF THE SUPER BOWL OF CARING AND JOY PARTAIN, THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS MANAGER OF THE KROGER COMPANY. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. THIS IS A NEW JOB FOR YOU, IS IT NOT? YES, IT IS. TELL US HOW YOU WORKED TO GET TO THIS POSITION. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE THIS TO GET READY FOR THIS, WHICH FALLS PERFECTLY INTO YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE. I JUST GOT THE JOB DECEMBER 6th. I WAS ACTUALLY IN HUNGER RELIEF 13 YEARS WITH TARGET HUNGER, IS WHERE I REMEMBER YOU FROM, A GREAT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDED A LOT OF FOOD FOR FAMILIES WITHIN HOUSTON'S INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND BEFORE THAT, I HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH UNITED WAY, HELPING COMPANIES RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL AGENCIES. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THIS YEAR FOR THE SUPER BOWL OF CARING? WHAT IS THE GOAL THIS YEAR FOR WHAT THIS CAMPAIGN IS HOVEL GOING TO ACHIEVE? WELL, WE HOPE TO SURPASS LAST YEAR'S GOAL. THE WUNG THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO, BECAUSE THE NEED IS SO GREAT OUT THERE, PARTICULARLY IN THE HOUSTON AREA, LAST YEAR WE RAISED MORE THAN 7.5 MILLION IN TERMS OF FOOD AND CASH DONATIONS. THIS YEAR OUR NATIONAL GOAL IS 8 MILLION. TALK ABOUT WHAT I'VE ALWAYS FOUND IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE I KNOW GROCERS IS VERY COMPETITIVE ON EVERY LEVEL, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE SCENARIOS WHERE EVERYBODY IS WORKING TOGETHER, SORT OF, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL. TALK ABOUT THE UNIQUE NATURE AND WHY THE GROCERS ARE SO INVOLVED. FOR THE 19 DAYS OF THIS CAMPAIGN UNTIL FEBRUARY 2nd, SBOEND, SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, ALL OF THE STORES, YOU CAN GO IN AND BUY A BAG JUST LIKE THIS AND BUY A BAG JUST LIKE THIS THAT'S PERFECT FOR THE COMMUNITY OR MAKE A CASH DONATION AND ALL OF THE CASH, ALL OF THE FOOD IS GOING TO FOOD BANKS IN THIS AREA. AND THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF NECESSITY FOR WHAT THE FOOD BANKS NEED, IS THERE NOT? SADLY, THERE'S NOT. 65,000 PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY EVERY DAY IN THE HOUSTON AREA. IT'S A TRAGEDY. SOME OF THE STATISTICS, MANY OF THEM ARE EYE-OPENING, BUT A FEW OF THEM, ONE OF THE FACTS YOU TALKED ABOUT, AN ESTIMATED 47% OF THE HUNGRY IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE CHILDREN. THAT'S AN INTERESTING STATISTIC, AND THE CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY MIGHT BELIEVE ARE THE HOMELESS, IN THE 18 COUNTIES THAT MAKE UP THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS AREA, 94% OF THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERED HUNGRY ARE NOT HOMELESS. WE KIND OF GO THROUGH LIFE THINKING THAT PEOPLE ON THE STREET ARE HOMELESS, BUT PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES DON'T HAVE THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, AND THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK SAYS THAT MORE THAN 65,000 PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY FOOD EVERY DAY. THAT'S A REAL BIG PROBLEM. WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW LONG-TERM? SUPER BOWL OF CARING IS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. BUT WHAT DO WE DO FOR THE OTHER MONTHS OF THE YEAR TO TRY TO MAKE AN IMPACT? WELL, THE GOOD THING ABOUT SUPER BOWL OF CARING, WE COME AT A TIME WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE GET OUT AND THEY WANT TO VOLUNTEER AND THEY WANT TO GET PERSONALLY INVOLVED DURING THE HOLIDAYS, BUT HUNGER IS NOT JUST A HOLIDAY ISSUE, SO TIMING IS RIGHT THAT WHEN YOU GO OUT AND YOU SIGN UP IN YOUR ORGANIZATION AND VAO *E VOLUNTEER TO PARTICIPATE, YOU'RE HELPING FOOT PANTRIES PUT FOOD BACK ON THE SHELVES. IF I'M A GROUP OR ORGANIZATION, WHAT CAN I DO, HOW CAN I SIGN UP? FIRST SUPER BOWL OF CARING IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, A NATIONAL MOVEMENT WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED AND FIGHT HUNGER IN THEIR OWN AREAS, AND THEY DO THAT BY HOSTING, IF YOU WILL, FOOD DRIVES AND THEY COLLECT FOOD AND MONETARY DONATIONS THROUGH THEIR YOUTH GROUP, THEIR CONGREGATIONS AND SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS AS WELL AND THEY GO AND THEY SIGN UP FOR THAT. THEY CAN DO THAT AT TUCKLE HUNGER.ORG AND SIGN UP PERSONALLY OR YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH THE BOY SCOUTS. THE BOY SCOUTS ARE GOING TO GO OUT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 25th, AND THEY'RE GOING TO PUT OUT FLIERS FROM DOOR TO DOOR AND THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THOSE HANGERS OUT FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE FOOD, FOR THEM TO GO AHEAD AND COLLECT ON THAT. I REMEMBER WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT'S ALWAYS NEAT TO HAVE THAT COME TO MY DOOR. JOY, TALK ABOUT WHAT THE GROCERS ARE PLANNING TO DO PRETTY MUCH ALL YEAR LONG. YOU HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON ALL YEAR LONG THAT HELP PEOPLE WITH FOOD THAT YOU MIGHT OTHERWISE THROW AWAY. SURE. IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF FOOD, ACTUALLY, THAT WOULD COWBOY TO WASTE THAT WE ARE GIVING RIGHT BACK TO FOOD BANKS, SO IT'S NOT ENDING UP NFT LANDFILLS, IT'S ENDING UP IN THE FOOD BANK AGENCIES RIGHT AROUND EACH STORE. THEY PICK UP THE FRESH FOOD, THE MILK, PRODUCE, MEAT THAT'S STILL PERFECTLY SAFE BUT WE HAVE MORE FOOD THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT ON THE SHELVES AND SO IT'S DONATED TO FOOD BANK AGENCIES TO HELP FEED PEOPLE ALL YEAR LONG. IN ADDITION TO THESE BAGS YOU CAN BUY ALL YEAR LONG. IT'S UNIQUE FOR YOU AND THE OTHER UNNAMED GROCERY STORES AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO ACTUALLY -- I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A VERY INTERESTING COMPETITION THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR. SURE. AT THE KICKOFF A FEW DAYS AGO, IT'S ABOUT THE ONLY TIME WE SEE THEM ON A FRIENDLY TURF AND THAT WAS HOSTED BY THE FOOD BANK, WHICH IS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA AND IT'S THE ONLY TIME THAT ALL OF THE NEWS AGENCY COOPERATE AS WELL, SO THERE'S COMPETITION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. YOU'RE OPTIMISTIC WE CAN MAKE A DENT IN HUNGER IN THIS AREA? IN TEXAS, WE DO THINGS BIG. IN HOUSTON, WE DO EVERYTHING EVEN BETTER. THE GOAL FOR HOUSTON IS TO TRY TO RAISE ENOUGH FOOD IN CANS AND DONATIONS THAT WE'LL PROVIDE ABOUT 2.8 MILLION MEALS FOR THE HOUSTON AREA. HOVEL WE'VE HOPEFULLY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP. SUPER BOWL OF CARING RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, AND KPRC ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER STATIONS AND MANY BUSINESSES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MICK A DIFFERENCE, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN AS WELL. THANK YOU, CLARA COOPER AND JOY PARTAIN FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE IT. GOOD LUCK IN THE CAMPAIGN, IN THIS CASE IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER ABOUT THE WINNER OF THE SUPER BOWL. TOMORROW IS THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY, AND ALONG WITH THE MANY ACTIVITIES, THERE WILL BE THE PARADE DOWNTOWN TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 HOSTED BY THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY. THERE ARE MANY MORE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AND A PARADE IN THE AFTERNOON. ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY THAT TAKES ON EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANCE THIS YEAR AS WE CELEBRATE THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN FIND A WAY TO GET INVOLVED. REMEMBER WHAT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. STOOD FOR ON THIS DAY. IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN OUR "HOUSTON NEWSMAKERS" CONVERSATION ON TWITTER, YOU CAN DO SO. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT #HOUNEWSMAKERS, AND IF THERE ARE SUBJECTS OR STORIES YOU'D LIKE FOR US TO TACKLE, YOU CAN ALSO eMAIL ME AT HOUSTONNEWSMAKERS@CLICK2HOUSTON. COM. SEVERAL OF YOU SENT ME eMAILS LAST WEEK. WE'LL BE GETTING ON THOSE STORIES VERY SOON. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE PREVIOUS SHOWS OR GET INFORMATION ON TODAY'S SHOW, GO TO CLICK2HOUSTON.COM AND UNDER THE COMMUNITY BANNER, CLICK ON THE "HOUSTON NEWSMAKERS" TAB. THERE, YOU'LL FIND OUT OF THE INFORMATION VERY TO GET THE INFORMATION ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONTACT AND ALSO ON THE SUPER BOWL OF CARING INFORMATION. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR GUESTS FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING AND, OF COURSE, ALL OF YOU FOR TUNING IN. HAVE A GREAT DAY, EVERYBODY,

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